In the middle of one of Syracuse’s best starts in program history, head coach John Desko asked two of his best offensive threats to swap positions.

Against Duke on March 25, Nick Mariano switched from attack to midfield, and he felt comfortable because the senior has spent considerable time at both positions over the last four years between Massachusetts and Syracuse. Brendan Bomberry was less sure. The junior transfer had little experience on the attack. But Desko saw something.

Mariano and Bomberry combined for five of SU’s 12 goals against the Blue Devils. In the next three games, Bomberry averaged two points per game and Mariano has had at least a hat trick in every contest.

“Obviously, Nick Mariano is the alpha male offensively of this team,” ESPN lacrosse analyst Mark Dixon said. “Bomberry is more a pure finisher. He’s a shooter first, and when you’re a shooter first your best spot on the field is attack. Mariano is more of a playmaker. He’s a little bit more versatile. He can beat you off the dodge, he can come off screens, he can play the two-man game. … Your versatility guys play at the midfield.”

The Orange’s (9-1, 3-0 Atlantic Coast) reconfiguration has sparked renewed offensive production on a seven-game winning streak that pushed SU to No. 1 in the nation for the first time in almost two years. Before the switch, Syracuse averaged 10.8 goals per game, excluding the season opener against Siena. Since, SU has poured in 13.8 per game against some of the nation’s better defenses. The Orange will be tested again Saturday at 4 p.m. in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, against the defending national champions. The No. 17 Tar Heels (6-5, 1-2) defense allows only 9.2 goals per game.

SU beat Cornell, 15-8, on Tuesday night, and will fly out Friday morning after practicing Wednesday and Thursday. The Orange won at Hobart, 17-11, in its only other short-week game this season.

“John’s done a tremendous job,” Cornell head coach Matt Kerwick said after Tuesday’s game. “Honestly, I think this might be one of his best coaching jobs that I’ve seen him do. … They are just an efficient offensive team.”

SU’s head coach said he flopped then-two of his three leading scorers because he wanted to maximize each of their skills: Bomberry’s lacrosse IQ and inside finishing ability, as well as Mariano’s athleticism and dodging. Desko also wanted to create problems.

The defense could pick which four guys it wanted to pole between attacks Nate Solomon (24 points) and Jordan Evans (27), midfielders Sergio Salcido (37) and Jamie Trimboli (8) and Bomberry (26) and Mariano (40). Usually the defense selected Solomon, Evans, Salcido and Bomberry, and Desko liked those matchups.

It left Mariano and Trimboli, “two very good offensive players,” getting short sticks. When teams double-pole the midfield, which has happened occasionally and Desko expects it to happen again, SU’s offense found itself with a short-stick defending its attack. Fine by Desko.

“(Mariano) getting the shorty is a green light for him to have a day,” Salcido said.

Bomberry adjusted to the switch by spending more time studying film with coaches because, as a midfielder raised on box lacrosse and partial to hanging out around the crease, he hasn’t had as much experience with long poles. But Bomberry downplayed the switch and said it hasn’t been difficult aside from shifting away from a mentality of being at the top of the offense.

“They want me to (be around the crease) a little more,” Bomberry said. “I get away from that trying to be more of a dodger and feeder (on attack). The coaches just want me out there more, getting more touches.”

Switching to attack actually provides Bomberry the freedom to freelance near the cage for “garbage goals”, Mariano said. The senior relearned transitioning back to midfield that he needs to play at the top more. Not that he’s complaining as his hands free up against short-sticks.

Now, when the Orange starts its offense, the ball usually rests in Mariano’s stick with options swarming around him. Then there’s Bomberry, camped near the crease on attack.

“We have a game plan,” Desko said. “That’s what I mean when I say we know who we are. We have a lot of strength on that first midfield right now. Our dodging is great.

“When we see matchups,” he said, “we know how to attack.”

Published on April 13, 2017 at 1:14 am

Contact Sam: sjfortie@syr.edu | @Sam4TR